Huron County Paramedics have had a near-unanimous vote to initiate strike action for the first time ever.
Huron County Paramedic Services, represented by CUPE 4513, voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action against Huron County, stating that the 112 paramedics in the County are "sending a clear message to the County of Huron that mental health supports, wages, and benefits must improve," according to a statement from CUPE.
The statement shares that in the past, paramedics in Huron County have relied on arbitration to resolve outstanding issues with the County, but now that has changed.
"This vote marks a significant shift for the local and reflects the severity of the issues members are facing as they deal with stagnating wages, increasing pressures on the emergency medical services, and a growing population," the statement from CUPE added.
Additionally, the statement claims that wage and benefit levels for Huron County paramedics have fallen behind comparable services in other regions. The statement also claims that since 2016, members have received only $6 in wage increases while inflation over the same period reached 28.84 per cent.
The two sides are set to resume bargaining on November 23 and 24. CUPE 4513 has requested a conciliation, but one has yet to be appointed.
"We’ve put our fate in someone else’s hands through arbitration for years and that’s how we’ve ended up in this position. Now we’re taking control to fight for the resources we need," said Kelsy Long, a paramedic with over 14 years of experience and President of CUPE 4513. "No paramedic wants to strike but I am incredibly proud of our members for taking this step. We need a sustainable service that can meet our communities’ needs while taking care of the people who provide that care."
Long says members are tired of feeling overworked and under appreciated.
"Our members are very frustrated. We've met with the employer six times and we're just not getting what's deserved and what's fair for our members, especially when you compare to the other paramedic service settlements that have recently happened," she stated. "We would like to see the employer understand that our members feel overworked and exhausted, and we're just asking for them to give us fair benefits and fair mental health supports that they need."
When it comes to better mental health benefits and supports, Long says members don't want to feel short-changed, especially given that they see people on the worst days of their lives typically. Long says that takes a real toll on paramedics who are thrust into very high-stress environments.
"Members just want to feel supported and like they do not have to pay out of pocket for their mental health services," she pointed out. "If they feel valued for their work, if they feel like they have proper mental health support and they're getting the wage to reflect that, we won't have members needing to leave or take second jobs, or go somewhere else that has better mental health (support) and wages."
The full CUPE 4513 statement is available to view here: https://www.communitywire.ca/2026/11/02/huron-county-paramedics-deliver-near-unanimous-strike-vote-as-negotiations-flat-line/
